Smartphone prices are rising around the world in 2026. According to Counterpoint Research, the average price of existing smartphones has increased by about 15% this year.

More than 40% of smartphone models have become more expensive. New smartphones are also costing more. Phones launched in 2026 are about 25% more expensive than similar phones launched last year.

The main reason for the price increase is the rising cost of memory and other phone parts. Memory is an important part of every smartphone. Its price has increased sharply since late 2025. This has made it more expensive for companies to make smartphones. As a result, many companies are increasing phone prices.

India has seen the biggest increase, with smartphone prices rising by 21%. Prices increased by 19% in Asia Pacific and 18% in the Middle East and Africa. Latin America saw a 16% increase.

Image via Counterpoint

Other markets saw smaller increases. Prices rose by 10% in China, 7% in Europe and 5% in the US. In these markets, most of the increase is linked to new smartphone launches. Phone companies are also changing their products to control costs. Some phones now have less storage, fewer cameras or 4G instead of 5G.

Customers are also changing their buying habits. Many people are waiting longer before buying a new phone. Some are choosing cheaper models or buying refurbished phones. EMI, financing, and trade-in offers are also helping customers.

Apple has kept iPhone prices mostly stable so far. However, experts expect smartphone prices to keep rising in the coming months, including for the upcoming iPhone 18 series.

Samsung could be facing a penalty of up to 64.4 billion won, roughly $47 million, in South Korea over its handling of the Galaxy S22 series’ Game Optimizing Service (GOS) and limiting performance.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission’s (KFTC) examiner has reportedly classified Samsung’s advertising practices as a serious violation, arguing that the company promoted the high-end performance of Galaxy devices without adequately explaining that GOS could substantially restrict CPU and GPU performance in demanding games.

GOS performance limits under scrutiny

The dispute centers on how Samsung presented the performance capabilities of its smartphones. GOS is designed to control heat and power consumption during gaming, but its implementation on the Galaxy S22 series became controversial after Samsung prevented users from easily bypassing the restrictions.

According to the KFTC examiner’s findings, testing with Genshin Impact showed the CPU reaching only 46.8% of its maximum performance and the GPU 42.8% under GOS. The examiner reportedly considered this more than routine thermal optimization because the limits were applied broadly rather than dynamically based on the circumstances.

The examiner also argues that processor performance is a core factor consumers consider when purchasing a premium smartphone. As a result, leaving significant performance restrictions out of advertisements that highlighted the Galaxy S21, S22 and Tab S8 series’ capabilities could mislead buyers.

Samsung maintains that GOS exists to provide stable gaming performance over extended periods by managing temperature and power consumption. The company has also argued that only a small portion of users play games affected by these restrictions, making the information less significant to typical buyers.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

Final decision is still pending

The proposed penalty ranges from 32.2 billion won to 64.4 billion won, based on sales considered relevant to the case. The KFTC is also considering corrective measures requiring Samsung to clearly disclose meaningful performance limitations in future advertising.

The matter is not settled yet. The KFTC’s full commission is scheduled to deliberate the case on October 14, when it will determine whether Samsung violated the law and, if so, what penalty should apply.

The controversy remains particularly relevant as Samsung prepares to expand the role of its in-house Exynos processors in future Galaxy flagships. After the GOS backlash, the Galaxy S23 series moved entirely to Snapdragon, but Samsung has since been bringing Exynos back into its premium smartphone strategy.

Samsung is bringing a cleaner, more furniture-like appearance to its washing machine lineup, extending the company’s flat design approach beyond its premium appliances at IFA 2026.

The new 24-inch front-load washers are being showcased at Samsung Connect during IFA 2026 in Berlin, giving visitors an early look at the machines before their official launch.

The design is noticeably different from Samsung’s older washers, where the control panel and other front elements created a more protruding appearance.

A flatter design for modern homes

The biggest change is the redesigned front, which gives the washer a more uniform and understated appearance. Samsung is clearly positioning the machines as something that can blend into contemporary interiors rather than stand out as traditional utility appliances.

The redesign also has a practical benefit. A larger door and wider opening should make it easier to load and remove clothes, particularly when dealing with bulky laundry.

Samsung has also brought some of its existing laundry technologies to the new range. Bubble Shot sprays water around the drum to help shorten washing cycles, while Ecobubble creates detergent bubbles that can penetrate fabrics more effectively at lower temperatures.

This design shift fits into Samsung’s broader effort to make household appliances feel more integrated with the home. The company has increasingly focused on consistent, minimalist designs across its appliance portfolio, and these new washers show that approach reaching a more compact form factor.

Samsung is showcasing the lineup at Samsung Connect in Berlin from September 2 to 6, alongside its other IFA 2026 innovations.

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• Samsung showcases its vision for AI Living at IFA 2026

Samsung officially announced the Galaxy S26 FE in South Korea. The company also confirmed that the new smartphone begins shipping in the market starting on September 4.

In late August, Samsung held an online Galaxy Event where it unveiled the Galaxy S26 FE. The company had also revealed that the device will go on sale in select markets in early September, with Korea confirmation starting to arrive.

The Galaxy S26 FE comes with 256GB of storage in three colors: Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio, and is priced at 1,045,000 KRW (~ $767.85). You can purchase it at Samsung Stores nationwide, Samsung.com, and both online and offline mobile carrier stores.

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S26 FE with pro-level camera features from the Galaxy S26 series. The company highlights My FanCam and Horizontal Lock features that elevate the videography experience on the device.

• My FanCam: It tracks the movement of a chosen person in a video; users can easily edit videos centered on their selected subject.
• Super Steady: A Horizontal Lock option allows users to shoot stable videos even during high-movement activities.

Additionally, the Galaxy AI suite powered by One UI 9 understands user context to help carry out various tasks faster and more efficiently through features like Now Brief and Now Nudge.

Customers who purchase the unlocked Galaxy S26 FE model can also sign up for the New Galaxy AI Subscription Club. Subscribers will receive benefits such as:

• A residual value guarantee of up to 50% upon returning the device
• Samsung Care+
• Discounts on accessory packages

Samsung is also offering Galaxy S26 FE buyers a 6-month subscription to Google AI Pro, a 2-month Welaaa subscription, and three 30 percent discount coupons for cases and accessories usable on the Samsung.com app.

Chinese electronics company TCL has sued South Korean company Samsung in a US court. TCL says Samsung falsely advertised some of its TVs as using “Mini LED” technology. The case was filed in a federal court in Los Angeles.

Mini LED is a TV technology that can improve picture quality. It can provide better contrast, brighter pictures and clearer dark areas. TCL says its Mini LED TVs offer these benefits to customers.

TCL claims Samsung’s M Model TVs do not actually use Mini LED technology. The company says Samsung used older standard LED TV designs instead. TCL says Samsung then sold these TVs as Mini LED models.

According to TCL, Samsung launched the M Model TVs in March at lower prices than TCL’s cheapest Mini LED TVs. TCL says this may have confused customers who wanted better picture quality and were looking for genuine Mini LED televisions.

Image via Samsung

TCL also says Samsung’s actions hurt its sales and reputation. The company said it became the top seller of Mini LED TVs in the US between 2023 and 2025. TCL believes Samsung’s new TVs helped the company win back some market share.

Samsung has rejected TCL’s accusations and said it will strongly defend itself in court. The company said it stands behind the quality of its products and the accuracy of its product descriptions.

TCL is asking the court to stop Samsung from calling the disputed TVs “Mini LED.” It is also seeking an unspecified amount of money in damages. The case shows the growing competition between the two major TV companies.